Elastic sweatband and headwear having the same

ABSTRACT

A stretchable sweatband with enhanced stretchability and improved wearing comfort, and a headwear in which the stretchable sweatband is applied are disclosed. The headwear includes a head covering portion being worn on a head of a wearer, a visor portion coupled with the head covering portion, and a sweatband coupled at an interior side of the head covering portion, wherein the sweatband is made of a fabric of two overlapped sections connected one another when it is cut perpendicularly to a lengthwise direction, the fabric being woven by pluralities of warp and weft yarns crossing one another.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a stretchable sweatband and headwear using the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a stretchable sweatband with enhanced stretchability, which provides a wearer with improved wearing comfort, and a headwear in which the stretchable sweatband is applied.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, a headwear, such as a cap, a hat, and a visor, may include a crown portion for being worn on a head of a wearer, and a visor portion formed entirely or partially at an interior circumference of a bottom side of the crown portion. Such headwear has a sweatband connected thereto at the lower interior circumference of the crown portion. The sweatband absorbs sweat exuding from a forehead of a wearer so that the headwear may maintain its comfort. However, generally, the sweatband is formed in compressed state so as to have stretchability and have grooves thereof in parallel along a lengthwise direction when the sweatband is woven or knitted by elastic yarns. Accordingly, the sweatband has provided uncomfortable feelings and sensations of compression to the wearer, and impressions have remained on the forehead of the wearer. And thus, it is necessary for the sweatband to provide wearing comfort to the wearer of the headwear while improving stretchability of an existing sweatband.

The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in an effort to provide a stretchable sweatband and headwear using the same having the advantage of providing wearing comfort to the wearer of the headwear while providing enhanced stretchability. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a headwear, the headwear including a head covering portion being worn on a head of a wearer, a visor portion coupled with the head covering portion, and a sweatband coupled at an interior side of the head covering portion, wherein the sweatband is made of a fabric of two overlapped sections connected one another when it is cut perpendicularly to a lengthwise direction thereof, the fabric being woven by pluralities of warp and weft yarns crossing one another. The sweatband may include polyurethane yarns as the warp yarns. The sweatband may include polyurethane yarns in one of the two overlapped sections. The sweatband may be made of a fabric woven by repeating an arrangement of one weft yarn disposed on one warp yarn and the weft yarn disposed under three warp yarns. The sweatband may be made of a fabric woven by repeating an arrangement of one weft yarn disposed on one warp yarn and the weft yarn disposed under two warp yarns. The sweatband may be made of a fabric woven by repeating arrangement of one weft yarn disposed on one warp yarn and the weft yarn disposed under one warp yarn. The sweatband may be woven with polyester and polyurethane yarns as the warp yarns, and polyester yarns as the weft yarns. One polyester yarn for warp and weft yarns may have a thickness in a range of 70 to 450 denier and may be made of multi-filaments in a range of 24 to 580 strands. One polyurethane yarn for warp yarns may have a thickness in a range of 40 to 110 denier and are made of monofilament. The sweatband may have an elongation in a range of 5% to 100%. The sweatband may have an elastic recovery in a range of 95% to 100%. The sweatband may have a width in a range of 18 mm to 50 mm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cap using a sweatband according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a visor cap using a sweatband according to an alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the sweatband according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along the line A-A in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4A is a partial plane view of a sweatband showing an arrangement of weft and warp yarns combined therein according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4B is a partial plane view of a sweatband showing an arrangement of weft and warp yarns combined therein according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4C is a partial plane view of a sweatband showing an arrangement of weft and warp yarns combined therein according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial plane view for comparing a sweatband according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention with the conventional sweatband.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cap using a sweatband according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The cap includes a crown portion 1 for being worn on a head of a wearer, a visor portion 3 extruded from the crown portion 1, and a sweatband 5 disposed at the interior side of the crown portion 1. In addition, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a visor cap using a sweatband according to an alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The visor cap includes a rim portion 7 encircling the head, a typical visor portion 3 connected to one side of the rim portion 7, and a sweatband 5 provided at the interior circumference of the rim portion 7. The present invention is not limited to the cap or the visor cap as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, which merely show examples of kinds of application of the present invention, which may be a hat or other various kinds of headwear.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the sweatband according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along the line A-A in FIG. 1.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the sweatband 5 may be made of a fabric woven in a cylindrical format which is smoothly consecutive in a seamless manner, and may be formed of the two overlapping layers. As shown in FIG. 3, that is, the sweatband 5 may have a ring-shaped section when it is taken along the line A-A of FIG. 1 that is, cut perpendicularly to a lengthwise direction thereof, and the sweatband 5 may have two overlapped sections when the ring-shaped section is compressed in perpendicularly to a length direction of the sweatband. The sweatband 5 is preferably woven by warp yarns 5 a and weft yarns 5 b repeatedly crossing one another. In other words, the sweatband 5 may include a first fabric section 51 interiorly disposed and a second fabric section 52 exteriorly disposed based on the head of the wearer. Accordingly, the first fabric section 51 may be in contact with the head or the forehead, and the second fabric section 52 may be connected with the interior circumference of the bottom side of the crown portion or the interior rim portion by sewing or taping. In this embodiment, it is one example that the first fabric section 51 is interiorly disposed and the second fabric section 52 is exteriorly disposed. Alternatively, the first fabric section 51 may be exteriorly disposed and the second fabric section 52 may be interiorly disposed.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the warp yarns 5 a are defined as disposed along the lengthwise direction relative to the sweatband 5 and the weft yarns 5 b are defined as disposed along a substantially perpendicular direction relative to the lengthwise direction of the sweatband 5.

The sweatband 5 may be woven by crossing the warp yarns 5 a and the weft yarns 5 b with one another. FIG. 4A through FIG. 4C is respectively a partial plane view of a sweatband according to a first, second, and third exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein the sweatband is made of a fabric woven by crossing a plurality of warp yarns 5 a and a plurality of weft yarns 5 b with one another. According to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the sweatband 5 is made of a fabric woven by repeating an arrangement of one weft yarn 5 b disposed on one warp yarn 5 a and the weft yarn 5 b disposed under three warp yarns 5 a.

In addition, according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the sweatband 5 is made of a fabric woven by repeating an arrangement of one weft yarn 5 b disposed on one warp yarn 5 a and the weft yarn 5 b disposed under two warp yarns 5 a.

In addition, according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the sweatband 5 is made of a fabric woven by repeating an arrangement of one weft yarn 5 b disposed on one warp yarn 5 a and the weft yarn 5 b disposed under one warp yarn 5 a.

Such a sweatband may include polyurethane yarns in the warp yarns. The polyurethane warp yarns remarkably increase stretchability along the circumferential direction of the head, and therefore, wearing comfort may be improved. While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

In addition, the sweatband 5 is made of the first and second fabric sections 51 and 52, which are two overlapped sections, woven continuously by the warp yarns 5 a and weft yarns 5 b, as shown in FIG. 3, the first and second fabric sections 51 and 52 may respectively have a different fabric texture, yarn count, and density. The sweatband 5 may be variously manufactured in order to sufficiently enhance an elastic force in a circumferential direction of the head.

Meanwhile, the sweatband 5 may include polyurethane yarns in one of the two overlapped sections, that is, the first and second fabric sections 51 and 52. When the polyurethane yarns are included in both the first and second fabric sections 51 and 52, they may cause the improved stretchability, but may also increase uncomfortable feelings and sensations of compression. However, when the polyurethane yarns are included in the either first fabric section 51 or second fabric section 52, the uncomfortable feelings and sensations of compression are reduced while the stretchability is reduced. Therefore, the stretchability as well as the uncomfortable feelings and sensations of compression may be controlled depending on how the polyurethane yarns are included.

In addition, the sweatband 5 is preferably woven with polyester and polyurethane yarns as the warp yarns 5 a, and polyester yarns as the wefts yarns 5 b. This is because the polyester yarns can provide various functions such as sweat absorption and exudation, and stretchability to the sweatband according to the processing method, they have a smooth and soft surface, and they can be used to clearly express logos or words.

In addition, in the sweatband 5 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the polyester warp yarns 5 a and weft yarns 5 b preferably have a thickness in a range of 70 to 450 denier. In addition, the polyester warp yarns 5 a and weft yarns 5 b are preferably made of multi-filaments in a range of 24 to 580 strands. This is because the sweatband can provide a suitable thickness and texture feeling to the wearer when the yarns have thickness and counts in such ranges. Accordingly, outside of such ranges, the sweatband may be too thin or too thick for the wearer to use.

In the sweatband 5 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the polyurethane warp yarns 5 a preferably have a thickness in a range of 40 to 110 denier and are preferably made of monofilament. This is because the desired size of sweatband products can be provided by matching the stretchability when the yarns have thickness and counts in such ranges. Generally, the stretchable yarns, including the polyurethane yarns, are spun around one strand of polyurethane yarn.

In addition, the sweatband 5 preferably has a stretch in a range of 5% to 100%. In addition, the sweatband 5 preferably has an elastic recovery in a range of 95% to 100%. In addition, the sweatband 5 preferably has a width in a range of 18 mm to 50 mm. This is because this width is most suitable for children and adults having different circumferences of the head.

FIG. 5 is a partial plane view for comparing a sweatband according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention with the conventional sweatband. As shown in FIG. 5, when the sweatband is made of the fabric woven of various warp and weft yarns which are variously processed and functioned in such a manner, the sweatband may have a superior stretch along the lengthwise direction, that is, the circumferential direction of the head, wearing comfort may be enhanced, and uncomfortable feelings, sensations of compression, and impressions formed on the forehead may be reduced because the sweatband is smoothly and consecutively formed without grooves(lines) as “A” of FIG. 5 in comparison with a line “B” of the conventional sweatband.

When the sweatband is made of the fabric woven of the polyester and polyurethane warp yarns in such a manner, the sweatband has superior stretchability along the lengthwise direction. In addition, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, uncomfortable feelings and sensations of compression may be reduced because the sweatband is smoothly formed without grooves. 

1. A headwear comprising: a head covering, portion being worn on a head of a wearer; a visor portion coupled with the head covering portion; and a sweatband coupled to an interior side of the head covering portion; wherein the sweatband is made of one seamless fabric, the one seamless fabric having two overlapped sections continuously connected to one another when the sweatband is cut perpendicularly to a lengthwise direction, and being woven in a cylindrical shape by pluralities of warp and weft yarns crossing one another.
 2. The headwear of claim 1, wherein the sweatband includes polyurethane yarns as the warp yarns.
 3. The headwear of claim 1, wherein the sweatband is made of plurality of warp and weft yarns and the two overlapped sections respectively have a different fabric texture, yarn count and density.
 4. The headwear of claim 1, wherein the sweatband includes polyurethane yarns in one of the two overlapped sections.
 5. The headwear of claim 1, wherein the sweatband is made by repeating an arrangement of one weft yarn disposed on one warp yarn and the weft yarn disposed under three warp yarns.
 6. The headwear of claim 1, wherein the sweatband is made of a fabric woven by repeating an arrangement of one weft yarn disposed on one warp yarn and the weft yarn disposed under two warp yarns
 7. The headwear of claim 1, wherein the sweatband is made of a fabric woven by repeating an arrangement of one weft yarn disposed on one warp yarn and the weft yarn disposed under one warp yarn.
 8. The headwear of claim 1, wherein the sweatband is woven with polyester and polyurethane yarns as the warp yarns, and polyester yarns as the wefts yarns.
 9. The headwear of claim 8, wherein the polyester yarn for warp and weft yarns have a thickness in a range of 70 to 450 denier.
 10. The headwear of claim 8, wherein the polyester yarn for warp and weft yarns are made of multi-filaments in a range of 24 to 580 strands.
 11. The headwear of claim 2, wherein the polyurethane yarn have a thickness in a range of 40 to 110 denier and is made of monofilament
 12. The headwear of claim 1, wherein the sweatband has an elongation in a range of 5% to 100%.
 13. The headwear of claim 1, wherein the sweatband has an elastic recovery in a range of 95% to 100%.
 14. The headwear of claim 1, wherein the sweatband has a width in a range of 18 mm to 50 mm.
 15. A sweatband coupled with a headwear is formed of one seamless fabric of two overlapped sections continuously connected to one another when the sweatband is cut perpendicularly to a lengthwise direction, and being woven in a cylinder shape by pluralities of warp and weft yarns crossing one another.
 16. The sweatband of claim 15, wherein the warp yarns include polyurethane yarns.
 17. The sweatband of claim 15, wherein the two overlapped sections respectively have a different fabric texture, yarn count and density.
 18. The sweatband of claim 15, wherein the sweatband includes polyurethane yarns in one of the two overlapped sections.
 19. The sweatband of claim 15, wherein the sweatband is made of a fabric woven by repeating an arrangement of one weft yarn disposed on one warp yarn and the weft yarn disposed under three warp yarns.
 20. The sweatband of claim 15, wherein the sweatband is made of a fabric woven by repeating an arrangement of one weft yarn disposed on one warp yarn and the weft yarn disposed under two warp yarns.
 21. The sweatband of claim 15, wherein the sweatband is made of a fabric woven by repeating an arrangement of one weft yarn disposed on one warp yarn and the weft yarn disposed under one warp yarn.
 22. The sweatband of claim 15, wherein the sweatband is woven with polyester and polyurethane yarns as the warp yarns, and polyester yarns as the weft yarns.
 23. The sweatband of claim 22, wherein the polyester yarn for warp and weft yarns have a thickness in a range of 70 to 450 denier.
 24. The sweatband of claim 22, wherein the polyester yarn for warp and weft yarns is made of multi-filaments in a range of 24 to 580 strands.
 25. The sweatband of claim 16, wherein the polyurethane yarn have a thickness in a range of 40 to 110 denier and is made of monofilament.
 26. The headwear of claim 15, wherein the sweatband has an elongation in a range of 5% to 100%.
 27. The headwear of claim 15, wherein the sweatband has an elastic recovery in a range of 95% to 100%.
 28. The headwear of claim 15, wherein the sweatband has a width in a range of 18 mm to 50 mm. 